I am in the team for my batting: Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir has always put his country first. No wonder he wanted to serve in the Indian Army if he had not been representing his nation as a cricketer.

The Indian selectors have either been a little confused with the vice-captain's position or they want to groom both Gambhir and Kohli to lead India in the future and develop a healthy competition between the two. If the latter is the case, it is a well thought out strategy which will get the best out of these two fine leaders and none of them will take their leadership role for granted.

Based on this rotational policy, the southpaw was recently given the respective responsibility for the T20 WC to be held in Sri-Lanka in September and October.

Gambhir, though seemed unperturbed and nonchalant about the whole vice-captaincy issue.

"Your responsibilities and commitment towards the team don't change with change in designation. I am not in the team for my vice-captaincy. I am in the team to score runs and win matches for my country," Gambhir retorted when asked for his reaction after being reinstated as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's deputy.

Gambhir was happy to see Yuvraj and Harbhajan back in the Tri-colour mix.

"Yuvraj has been a match-winner and it is great to see him back in the team. As to whether the mood of the dressing room will be upbeat with Yuvraj coming back, I believe it's not dependent on any particular individual. It is about collective effort which constitutes of each and every member of the team," the left-hander said.

"I am happy that Harbhajan is in the squad because in big tournaments, you need players like him. It's just not like that he has played 98 Tests and 229 ODIs. He is a big-occasion man.", he added on Harbhajan.

Gambhir has always believed in shaping one's own destiny. Thus, he firmly stated that Piyush Chawla has made it to the T20 squad, as have others, only due to their hard work and not because they have proved lucky for the team in the past.

Gambhir stressed the need to perform well in the upcoming T20 internationals against New Zealand as they would provide good practice before the real test at the World T20.

Gambhir also added that replacing Rahul Dravid at No.3 in Tests would be a very difficult task but felt India had the talent pool to produce another player of international quality.